Day 181: A Song That Takes YouTo The Heart of Darkness
Midnight choir, a band from Norway, has already been featured in this blog. They have allegedly been named after two words taken from a verse from Leonard Cohen's well-known song "Bird on a Wire"; they are among the rulers in the bunch of kings of the dark melancholic lands and I strongly recommend everyone with an inclination to those countrysides to buy all of their records. Here is "Electric Rain", there is no further need from my side to explain anything:
As Midnight Choir has such a load of good songs, here is at least one more: "Snow in Berlin":
Handbags & Gladrags: I came to know that song through the version that has been done by Rod Stewart on his first album "An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down" back in 1970 (with Ronnie Wood on guitar and bass). This is still one of my (1000) fav albums today, whatever might have become of Rod. The song was written by Mike D'Abo who had been the vocalist in Manfred Mann from 1966-1969, replacing Paul Jones. He was the singer on all the hits of the band during their "Fontana Years", including the recently featured "Quinn the Eskimo" (Dylan). And he was the voice of King Herod in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Rock Opera" Jesus Christ Superstar (w/ Ian Gillan of Deep Purple as the voice of the Son of God). Originally, the song was recorded by Chris Farlowe of Colosseum fame. This is why some people think that it has been written by Farlowe. The song is also known because of its use as the title song of the British sit-com "Office UK", in a version arranged by Big George. I start with the lyrics, after that you will find the versions done by Rod Stewart (Mike D'Abo plays the piano on that one) and Chris Farlowe, followed by one of the recordings Mike D'Abo has done of his composition. For completeness' sake, I end with the rendering of the song by the Welsh band Stereophonics (that is nearest to Rod's version but sounds a bit kitschy in my ears - I think the orchestral arrangement on Rod's album to be far better).
Ever seen a blind man cross the road Trying to make the other side Ever seen a young girl growing old Trying to make herself a bride So what becomes of you my love When they have finally stripped you of The handbags and the gladrags That your Grandad had to sweat so you could buy
Once I was a young man And all I thought I had to do was smile You are still a young girl And you bought everything in style But once you think you're in you're out 'Cause you don't mean a single thing without The handbags and the gladrags That your Grandad had to sweat so you could buy
Sing a song of six-pence for your sake And take a bottle full of rye Four and twenty blackbirds in a cake And bake them all in a pie
They told me you missed school today So what I suggest you just throw them all away The handbags and the gladrags That your poor old Grandad had to sweat to buy
Rod Stewart's Version (still my fav one):
Chris Farlowe
Mike D'Abo's version (interestingly enough, it is the one I like the least among those):
Day 179: One of my favourite "pieces of music" of all times
You could not and you should not call a composition that is a complex weaving together of 5 themes a "song". And more so, not the very composition that proves that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been one of the greatest musical geniuses of all times. Woody Allen is credited of having found an even greater proof in the Molto Allegro Set #4 of Symphony 41 (K 551), the "Jupiter Symphony". According to some people, in Mr. Allen's opinion it proves the existence of God, since "the combination of the five themes in the five-part counterpoint fugato [was] so complex that it [was] impossible for the human ear to sense everything that is going on". Only God could completely grasp it. I could not verify this quote alleged to Mr. Konigsberg, whom some even hold to be an atheist. Be that as it may, for all the complexity of the work, still human beings are able to conduct and perform it, in various interpretations of what "Molto Allegro" might be (according to the metronome I have been using for years, "Allegro" ranges from 120 to 168 bpm). F.e., one of the most reputated Mozart conductors of the 20th century, Karl Böhm is responsible for an up-tempo version with the Wiener Philharmoniker:
George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra give an even faster interpretation of the piéce:
Compare this, for instance, to the way this famous composition is performed by Jeffrey Tate and the English Chamber Orchestra:
And for those who do not have God's ears, a rather slow rendering, so you can grasp it all in time, by Sir Charles Mackerras, conducting the Scottish Chamber Orchestra:
Let me end with the statement that listening to that composition immediately does away with all the horrible Mozart-Kitsch of the Austrian tourism industry.
This is an easy one; I have been still a child in 1968 (a young 68'er) and I did like that song ever since it had been written by Bob Dylan. No need to explain who that guy could possibly be, no chance to get a version done by him (e.g. the one on "Self Portrait") to post here, because his songs are forbidden for the members of the Kopimist Church.
This song is called The Mighty Quinn (although some hold it to be "Quinn the Eskimo"), and here is the performance of it as it has been done by Manfred Mann's band back in 68', which is - to me - still the classic rendering of the song. No need to print the lyrics, as they are included in the U-Tube-Vid brought to your attention here:
Other versions have been brought forth, f.e., by british singer Lulu (wonderful R&B arrangement):
Some talk about diffusion of religion to other cultural areas, some write about religion in the media, religion and the media, media as religion, music & religion, event religion a.s.o. Here is a classic dance track, a trance track that proclaims "GOD IS A DJ" and "THIS IS OUR CHURCH". Interestingly enough, it is by triphoppers (or however you wish to categorize) called FAITHLESS.
Nuff said, here it is, the Ash Wednesday 2012 song:
There is not much to comment on this one: everybody will understand that it is desirable to be as proficient on any instrument as Friedrich Gulda has been on the piano, not anybody will not know the song and whoever reads this blog will have no need to be informed about Mr. Gulda, the song and whatever might be connected to it (and, with the state of Austrian politics, "intellectuals" and arts at this time, it is good to remember that we had such persons as Mr. Gulda in our lovely country):
I think that I can play this song on the drums, although I never tried to do. Those among my friends who are critical about my abilities on the instrument will say, that I never will suceed at it, because I am totally incapable of keeping time for 273 seconds. However that may be, I will abstain from developing any theory about/on/starting from that piece of music (intellectuals are the shoe-shine boys of the ruling elite), with the exception of the simple statement that it really makes us think about what music is. Here is John Cage's 4'33"
Among the many cover versions to be found on YouTube, I do like the Death-Metal version most, the guy does a tremendously fast rendering of the piece:
3rd Bass certainly are one of the funniest hip-hop-crews ever (at least in my little world) and their 1991 "Derelicts of Dialect" is a classic of the genre. They also had a hit with one of the tracks as a single, a harsh critique of commercial rappers like Mc Hammer or Vanilla Ice. The circumstance, that two of the three guys were whities, did add additional seriousness to their satirical work. Here is "Pop Goes the Weasel" - the official video, starring Henry Rollins as Vanilla Ice:
I add two bonus tracks from the same album that also make me smile: "Herbals in your mouth" (currently not available, but i will keep on checking) and "Microphone techniques":
part of the lyrics:
Weebles to the weebles to the wobbles - to the herbalz I don't drink milk when it curdles Cause then it's too pasty, French like pastry It's like gettin caught boostin at Macy's True indeed, Cogswell Cogs, and Sprockets at Spacely's I make like George, and Jet-i-son safely to my rest and not a Tribe but I'm Quest'n You got bad breath, then take a Certs with Retsin Dribble dribble drabble say what, I beg your pardon Quincy ain't convinced me, got my own "Secret Gardens" So now we boomin out the speakers and amps (true) Buggin your nuts like the PMS cramps Some falsified but I gots bones to pick The only nine you ever seen was in arithmetic Herbalz given, how you livin? Yo I ain't played like a pseudo Herbalz in your mouth, and mine are macanudo
(There it is) Herbalz in your mouth (there it is, there it is) Everybody say herbalz in your mouth (there it is, there it is) Say herbalz in your mouth (there it is?) Everybody say herbalz in your mouth (there it is, there it is) A from the North, to the South (there it is) Everybody say HERBALZ IN YOUR MOUTH
Got the herbalz in your mouth Pete Nice! No herbalz, in his mouth Richie Rich! No herbalz, in his mouth Prince Paul, no herbalz in his mouth Yes, yes man Got herbalz, where they at? Got herbalz.. Herbalz in your mouth yo where they at they in your mouth Herbalz in your mouth yo where they at they in your mouth Herbalz in your mouth yo where they at they in your mouth Mouth mouth mouth, m-mouth, m-mouth..
DAY 173: A song you want to be played at your funeral
As I have already written in former posts on this subject, my funeral should be an occasion for people to dance and be happy: finally, he's gone! I am not sure whether my old comrades dear will dance to this here tune at my funeral, but I would at least like to have it heard. It is by the Walkabouts from Seattle, USA. They have already been featured with their version of Nick Cave's The Loom of the Land here (Sad Songs, #124, 2011-07-29). Today's tune is called DEAD MAN RISE. I promise not to do that at my funeral...
Wake up dead man, there's a noise You must attend It will not quit
Wake up dead man, there's a noise Your sleep is done Your secret's out
Dead man rise And clear the dust right out your clothes Dead man rise You've been away from here too long
Dead man rise Dead man rise
Wake up dead man, fate has spoke I'm yours to kiss He's yours to forget
Cause much has changed since you've been gone Love's grown wise Its rules have broken
Dead man rise And clear the dust right out your clothes Dead man rise You've been away from here too long
Dead man rise Dead man rise
Dead man rise Dead man rise Dead man rise Dead man rise
Dead man rise
Wake up dead man, there's a noise There's a noise you must attend Wake up dead man, there's a noise There's a noise that will not quit
There are so many really bad love songs on the planet, f.e. "How deep is your love" - maybe the worst song ever, even worse than "Last Christmas". I will not post a song I do not like any more, because this is not what a music blog is for. But I will expand the variety of musical styles to be found here, as I do not think that I have posted a Bluegrass song on this blog until today. So now for one of my favourite Bluegrass songs that is also (one of) my favourite love song(s). Peter Rowan's "I'm gonna love you like there's no tomorrow":
For six long years I've been here in this prison Livin my life behind bars in this dirty cell Tomorrow they're goin to take me down to Huntsville And send my soul to heaven or to hell
I'm gonna love you like there's no tomorrow I'm gonna love you like there's no yesterday I'm gonna hug and kiss away your sorrow I'm gonna love you like there's no tomorrow
The warden said my last request was granted That you could come and stay with me tonight You're the only one who ever really loved me So hold me in your arms hold me tight
I'm gonna love you like there's no tomorrow I'm gonna love you like there's no yesterday I'm gonna hug and kiss away your sorrow I'm gonna love you like there's no tomorrow
I know my life will soon be over And the life of our baby child is just begun There's only one thought now thats left to haunt me Just to think that what I've lost I might have won
As a bonus Texmex track, here is Peter Rowan with Flaco Jiménez and The Free Mexican Airforce:
